Unless Jehovah guards the city…

Jehovah’s Witnesses Daily Text

Saturday, March 11

Unless Jehovah builds the house, it is in vain that its builders work hard on it.—Ps. 127:1.

Jehovah’s organization goes to tremendous lengths to provide and help finance modest Kingdom Halls. The work of designing, building, and remodeling them is handled by unpaid volunteers. Since November 1, 1999, more than 28,000 beautiful new centers of pure worship have been provided for congregations worldwide. That means that for 15 years, on average, five new Kingdom Halls have been provided every day of the year. Efforts are being made to support the construction of Kingdom Halls wherever they are needed. This loving provision is based on the Scriptural principle that the surplus of some might offset the deficiency of others, in order that “there may be an equalizing.” As a result, beautiful new centers of pure worship have been provided for congregations that would otherwise never have had the financial resources to build a Kingdom Hall for themselves.

COMMENTARY

In context the Psalm reads: “Unless Jehovah builds the house, it is in vain that its builders work hard on it. Unless Jehovah guards the city, it is in vain that the guard stays awake.”

King Solomon is credited with writing this Psalm, which is called a Song of the Ascents, apparently being sung by the people as the ascended the mountain on which Jerusalem and the temple was built. Solomon, of course, was the builder of the magnificent temple. At the dedication of the temple Jehovah manifested his presence within by means of a dense cloud that drove the priests out. Thereafter a miraculous light shone above the golden ark of the Covenant called the Shekinah light, which represented Jehovah’s presence.

In time, though, the Israelite kings and priests apostatized. They corrupted pure worship. Although a captive in Babylon at the time Ezekiel was mentally transported to Jerusalem and God told him to bore through the temple walls to inspect its interior. After viewing the disgusting idols that had been set up in the temple, Jehovah said to his watchman: “Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each one in the inner rooms where his idols are displayed? For they are saying, ‘Jehovah is not seeing us. Jehovah has left the land.’”

It seems that God tolerated a bad situation for a long time, perhaps leading to their assumption that Jehovah had left the land.Contributing to their false sense of security the elders were no doubt aware that during the reign of king Hezekiah God had intervened to defend Jerusalem —completely decimating the Assyrian army by means of a warrior angel. That is likely why Jeremiah warned the people not to put their trust in the temple of Jehovah, as if it were some sort of lucky charm. The presence of the temple would not protect them. It was just a building, after all.

As a result of their wickedness Jehovah brought ruin upon Solomon’s temple. The hard work of the tens of thousands of laborers Solomon had employed was brought to nothing. It was in vain that the guards of the city stood their posts. Jehovah brought the Chaldean hordes from far away and they burned Jerusalem to the ground. The city where Jehovah had placed his name was no more.

A similar situation exists today. The leading elders of the Watchtower Society who boast of presiding over “pure worship” imagine that Jehovah does not see their works. They have no expectation of any sort of settling of accounts. They imagine Christ has already come, that he has cleansed them and given them his unqualified approval.

Besides the thousands of modest kingdom halls the Watchtower has constructed, the Society’s business-minded board of directors apparently realized they were sitting on a gold mine in Brooklyn and decided to cash in on the inflated real estate values. Putting all of their properties up for sale, properties previously, solemnly dedicated to Jehovah, and exploiting the same small army of volunteers that had been trained to build kingdom halls, a spacious new headquarters facility was built outside of New York City. Far away from the grime and crime of the big city the Governing Body have reported that they are happy and refreshed residing in the peaceful surroundings afforded by their lakefront condominiums.

Like the Jews living in Jerusalem prior to Babylon’s invasion, the governing elders of Jehovah’s Witnesses have no expectation of being on the receiving end of any sort of divine judgment. They are the keepers of pure worship. Their “prophets” have neutralized all of the Scriptures, interpreting them to glorify the organization as the embodiment of the very Kingdom of God. However they are in for a rude awakening.

As an example of the sort of engineering that has gone into the Watchtower’s interpretation of prophecy, the destruction of Solomon’s temple is supposed to find a parallel with the end of Babylon the Great and Christendom. However, according to the 74th Psalm the Babylonians profaned the place where God placed his name. Verse 7-8 read: “They set your sanctuary on fire. They profaned the tabernacle bearing your name, casting it to the ground. They and their offspring have said in their hearts: ‘All the meeting places of God in the land must be burned.’”

The prophecy of Daniel similarly foretells that during the time of the end the sanctuary and constant feature will be trampled upon and the holy ones brought to ruin. The Watchtower’s “prophets” have adjusted this to the past. Supposedly the Anglo-American kings brought the holy ones to ruin back during World War Two by conscripting young men into the military.

The book of Revelation also portrays the holy city and temple courtyard being trampled upon by the nations, which, amazingly took place during the First World War —at least according to the Watchtower. How? Apparently the US government censored a few paragraphs of the Finished Mystery book, a publication that is so riddled with nonsense that the Watchtower wishes it had never published it in the first place.

At some point in the future this present system is going to come crashing down. And, no, I am not referring to the end of the world at Armageddon. I am referring to what is symbolized in Revelation as the opening of the seven seals —specifically the opening of the 6th seal.

According to the Watchtower the seven symbolic seals containing the sum of God’s judgments were all opened in rapid succession during the First World War. But here is what the sixth seal betokens: “And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and a great earthquake occurred; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the entire moon became as blood, and the stars of heaven fell to the earth as when a fig tree shaken by a high wind drops its unripe figs. And the heaven departed as a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and every island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the high officials, the military commanders, the rich, the strong, every slave, and every free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they keep saying to the mountains and to the rocks: “Fall over us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

Jesus used this same sort of apocalyptic phraseology when he spoke of the great tribulation, saying: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

To paper over the fact that Jesus clearly indicated that the symbolic heavenly luminaries go into eclipse after the tribulation, the Watchtower’s institutional prophets claim that the First World War was merely the preliminary shakings of the great upheaval that is still in the future. So, even after a century since the time the sixth seal is believed to have been opened the events associated with its opening still have not occurred!

Unless a person choses to be willfully blind, it should be clearly evident that none of the seals of the symbolic scroll have been opened. War, famine, pestilence, earthquakes — it is all in the immediate days ahead.

Surely, it is in vain that the Society’s watchmen have stood watch, futilely waiting for the United Nations to decimate false religion. It is in vain that they have built a palatial headquarters in the countryside. The coming of Christ is destined to overturn the entire civilization. The Watchtower’s treasury is just as sure to be plundered as was Jehovah’s temple in times past. The things they have treasured up using the sweat of free labor will be lost. Then the prophecy will be fulfilled: “Come, now, you rich men, weep and wail over the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted, and your clothing has become moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted away, and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh. What you have stored up will be like a fire in the last days. Look! The wages you have withheld from the workers who harvested your fields keep crying out, and the cries for help of the reapers have reached the ears of Jehovah of armies. You have lived in luxury and for self-gratification on the earth. You have fattened your hearts on the day of slaughter. You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one. Is he not opposing you?” (James 5)

The judgment contained in James is associated with the presence of Christ. That is why in the very next verse James exhorted: “Be patient then, brothers, until the presence of the Lord. Look! The farmer keeps waiting for the precious fruit of the earth, exercising patience over it until the early rain and the late rain arrive. You too exercise patience; make your hearts firm, because the presence of the Lord has drawn close.” Since the rich men have not howled and wallowed in misery, a judgment reserved for the last days, neither has the presence of Christ begun. However, there is ample reason to believe that it has drawn close.

No wonder then, when the seals are actually opened it will result in the sun setting on the Watchtower’s prophets. Then, instead of boasting of practicing pure worship the survivors, the faithful anyway, will discard the idolatry associated with the Watchtower-centric form of worship as if it were a woman’s used menstruating cloth, saying “be gone!” (Isaiah 30:22)

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Truly grateful for all your self sacrifice in order to provide us with the truth.I look forward to your writings everyday.They help strengthen my faith more and more each day.Thank you.

Burt Reynolds

I feel the same way Shelley. I feel I can be confident that I’m listening to the truth. There is nothing hidden, nothing that is sly in meaning, nothing that seeks followers. It’s just truth, an explanation, there if you want it, seek it, love it. It’s just there. And it’s also there if its not wanted, as a vociferous condemnation of the lie.

Christ and the chosen ones will break the nations with an iron scepter. He swings the scepter back and forth, smashing this system into a million pieces. Smash, smash, smash, smash!

Beverly kenyon

Well, they don’t need Horlicks to help them to get to sleep as they’re happy and refreshed living like kings like you do when all your needs are being taken care of by others. 1Cor4:8. And they’re not just ‘keepers of pure worship’ according to Geoffrey Jackson they’re also ‘keepers of doctrine’. Very elite. Thank goodness faithful ones will wake up and stop idolising and putting their trust in the WT organisation and get rid of them like you would a sanitary pad, like something absolutely gross…that’s how Jehovah views it, so that says it all!

Daisy

Thought G Jackson referred to the leaders as “guardians of doctrine” sis. GOD in other words . We don’t mock, we just hope that most know soon, that if Jehovah is not with them (He laughs at idols as we know) then their Antichrist endeavours are in vain. Vain being the operative word I think.

Beverly kenyon

You’re right Daisy, guardians of doctrine. Looking at your post and wasn’t getting it. Then I saw the word guardians! I was saying guardians in my head whilst typing and typed ‘keepers’ instead! Duh! That’s what happens when you can’t think straight because of being dog tired and fatigued. Arrgh! True…vain is the operative word! Thank you Daisy, I appreciate that.

Francis Bencharles

They think that they are the keepers of wisdom from God when they are amatuers on a one level chess board, when the Bible is on at least four and probably more levels. We have just scratched the surface. I think we will be amazed and humbled when we are taught by the Kingdom of God the wisdom and understanding that is really held within the Bibles pages. I assure you, they are not the keepers of very much quality doctrine.

Daisy

I am assured already Francis that’s why I’m drawn here. However, im grateful to have learned the basic doctrines from the keepers of doctrine. I’m not the sharpest tool in the tool box I know so i know nothing about Bible levels or where you get your knowledge of that subject. All i know is what I’m learning from Robert is a blessing, which has strengthened my resolve to stay loving God’s purpose through His Son, in order to make it through to the glorious Kingdom. A longing wrenched from me by the guardians of doctrine.

Burt Reynolds

I wouldn’t say that Daisy. I reckon Jehovah could make a pretty good dovetail with your sharpening skills!

Southern ShaSha

Daisy, I must agree, finding Roberts site has certainly opened up a treasure chest of knowledge for all willing to peek inside. I am so grateful to learn something new each and everyday, without fear of questioning what I may not fully understand. I must admit, compared to most on this site, I am at the low end of the learning curve. But daily grow in the truth of Jehovah and Jesus!

Oh Joseph, please stop making me tearful. The words spoken in this clip are a perfect reply for ShaSha. So happy to get to know you sister
Stay close 😀

Joseph Stephan

?❤❤❤❤

Daisy

That’s so true. I love his blue eyes and his perfect English accent. Or…Am I able to understand Aramaic now…:D

Burt Reynolds

Wouldn’t have been wonderful to be there at that time.

Bklyn Kevin

And toward them the prophecy of Isaiah is having fulfillment, which says, ‘By hearing, YOU will hear but by no means get the sense of it; and, looking, YOU will look but by no means see. For the heart of this people has grown unreceptive, and with their ears they have heard without response, and they have shut their eyes; that they might never see with their eyes and hear with their ears and get the sense of it with their hearts and turn back, and I heal them.’Matthew 13:14-15. Read more>https://www.jw.org/en/publications/bible/bi12/books/matthew/13/#v40013010

Isaiah 6:9
And he went on to say: “Go, and you must say to this people, ‘Hear again and again, O men, but do not understand; and see again and again, but do not get any knowledge.’

John 12:40
He has blinded their eyes and he has made their hearts hard, that they should not see with their eyes and get the thought with their hearts and turn around and I should heal them.”

black curtain

Don’t know if you are aware of where Geoff Jackson got the phrase Guardians Of Doctrine from, but it is not his original idea. He got it from

https://diosav.org/news-2005-4-19-cardinal-ratzinger-guardian-church-doctrine-elected-265th-pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — German Cardinal Joseph
Ratzinger, the 78-year-old guardian of the church’s doctrine for the
last 24 years, was elected the 265th pope and took the name Benedict
XVI. White smoke poured from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 5:49 p.m.
signaling that the cardinals had chosen a successor to Pope John Paul
II. At 6:04 p.m., the bells of Saint Peter’s Basilica began pealing
continuously to confirm the election.

They seem to rely on the Catholic Church for a lot of their ideas.

Daisy

In answer to your question: no, I wasn’t aware where G.Jackson got the G.O.D phrase from, riveting strange words spoken under oath were they not, so why am I not a little surprised after reading your link. The Adversary has infiltrated all religions since the second century, and all that would entail, but WT doesn’t know that and neither did I before I came here. The original guardians of doctrine, those behind the Spanish Inquisition responsible for witch hunts and tortures (be it mental & emotional in our cases)… Now, whose warped ideas do they remind me of…

Burt Reynolds

Sorry to disillusion you and Black Curtain, Daisy, but the Catholics got it from the Book of Burt. The Gospel According to Edna, Ch 3. Verse 21. ‘ But know this, that in the last days, the Catholics and Protestants and all manner of unrighteous, shall purloin the Book of Burt, and shall apply titles of grandure to themselves, such as Guardian of the Doughnut, and by their lofty titles, you shall know them. And the doughnut will become despoiled and abused, and the haughty will find themselves in a jam.’

Beverly kenyon

Love Ch 3 of Edna in the Book of Burt and especially the haughty finding themselves in a jam. Such wisdom. Lol.

black curtain

Just to add further to your thoughts when you say “The Adversary has infiltrated ALL religions since the second century”. That is not so surprising, he invented religion and it belongs to him. It has served him well. As Rob King has pointed out as well, Satan and his team got at WT right from the beginning. Russell and his team were on a hiding to nothing that they would succeed. Russell’s death saved hin from seeing what was to come. When Rutherford incorporated the WT in the 1930’s, the WT had leaped on the back of the wild beast. They now paid no tax, were a charity, they could seek exemption from military duties (wherever), they could receive other financial benefits from the beast. What a prize.
But no one noticed. We all got sucked in like eager young cadets, with the bestest of intentions. How I argued that we had no clergy. Sighhhhh, what a lie amongst other lies. But the Satanic intervention and control was smooth. Give him credit for softly softly corruption. Religion has served Satan well as its power over the human mind is quite compelling and it is a brave soul and daring thinker who can resist its grip and avoid its control.
Interesting to note as I was reading Revelation today
(Revelation 21:22) 22 And I did not see A TEMPLE in it, for Jehovah God the Almighty is its temple, also the Lamb [is]. . .
No temple in heaven, and there will be none on earth either as religion will be smashed altogether, never to reappear… what a relief.
And then I noticed this,
(Revelation 20:12-13) . . .. 13 And the sea gave up those dead in it, and death and Ha′des gave up those dead in them, and they were JUDGED INDIVIDUALLY according to their deeds. . .
So belonging to the WT aka JW’s is of no particular help if you accept the deception put forth by the WT or presumably promote them, and you have no personal leaning to righteousness (not the self type at least).

ewatchman

There is a downside of the Society’s quest for control, even from their standpoint. In the event of the takeover of the USA by globalists, which is an absolute certainty at this point, meaning the abolition of the Bill of Rights and all that stuff, with the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society possessing the deed to virtually every kingdom hall, the takeover of the WT by the 8th king will result in the instantaneous dispossession of every congregation in one fell swoop. Easy peesy.

black curtain

Spot on Rob! The trouble for them I believe is that they feel that they are a queen who cannot be touched, why, aren’t we God’s people? How dare such a thing be suggested.

ewatchman

Do I know the person behind the black curtain? I have a strange feeling I do ;~)

Daisy

You and your juvenile digs. A ‘queen’?’Queen’. Don’t you mean King? Go away.

KB

Their greed will be their ultimate cause of their demise. It’s in Jehovahs hands.

Burt Reynolds

Watchtower Squeezy?!

Francis Bencharles

Did them a favor!

Beverly kenyon

Wow, Black Curtain, you know your stuff. Who are you? That’s amazing what you’ve wrote. They’re storing up treasures on earth that Brother King has just said in his post to you will instantaneously disappear! Gone! It’s a fool’s game. They’re so thick, greedy and materialistic! Love the highlights of those revelation scriptures you’ve pointed out…makes a person think. But still want to know about the ‘Burty’ comment! What’s that about?

Burt Reynolds

He is the ‘Black Curtain’ with super human powers, fighting the force of evil. He got disfellowshipped but pulled himself together. Things were looking pretty black for him at the time and everyone thought it was curtains for him after he was found draped over a curtain rod and caught up in a net curtain. He was arrested for trying to cover up a leaded window. They thought it was an open and shut casement. I’ll draw this to a close now, I’m going down to the Righteous Brother pub for a drink. Ps., it’s a secret, but the one weakness the black curtain has is Bakalite. If he gets anywhere near that, his superpowers drain away.

Joseph Stephan

It’s a Bird
It’s a Plane
It’s “THE BLACK CURTAIN”

Burt Reynolds

I think you’re right. If it’s the same Black Curtain I knew back in the 60s he came to a sticky end when he got rent in two when he was out one day at the temple. They say he was stitched up, but the investigation drew a blank and was pulled.

Richard Long

I get it now… some of you are Brits and the humor is epic Shakespearean. Now I see the dynamic between all of you, it makes sense how loyal to each other you are.

Daisy

On reading my post again I can see that I should have written; the Adversary infiltrated TRUE religion in the second century. By the third century it was a gonna…Constantine and the Athanasian creed put paid to that, manipulated by Satan of course. But you’re well aware of all that I’m sure. Ever so crafty Satan’s ‘softly softly corruption’, had to be due to the fact that the early bible students had been inspired to dig out truths lying comatose for millenniums and energetically made them known worldwide. The subliminal images printed in books in the 1920s, what was it with those naked boys, and the occultist connections surrounding Russell inform us that dark clouds were gathering over the organisation referred to as the Truth, early days.
You haven’t been with us for long have you. If you had, you will know that any deceptions by the WT are dutifully made known via a book Jehovah is King and the copious articles we can read here. And there’s no ‘promoting’ of the WT for self righteous reasons either. But, black curtain… I get your message loud and clear. Thanks for trying. Goodbye.

Burt Reynolds

There is nothing for it Daisy, you will have to run your copy via one of our proof readers before submitting!

Francis Bencharles

Daisy: The apostasy was already moving along at full force in the first century. The problem is that the only history that is available for that time is in the possession of the Catholic Church, which was fully developed not long after the destruction of Jerusalem and hints of that are sprinkled throughout the Christian Greek Scriptures.

Richard Long

Do we want to check this example of WTspeak against Robert’s current essay?

One of their ‘higher ups’ during a court case I think, said that the Hierarchy structure of Jehovah’s Witnesses was similar to the Catholic Church. I had the quote and who said it written down but can’t find it! But that’s the gist of it. Maybe someone can remember more. And not just relying on ideas doing similar things as well like moving paedophiles around, concealing them and paying millions out in compensations and quite rightly so.

black curtain

Dear Beverly the quote you are looking for comes from the Menlo Park Congregation California vs The WTBTS of NY Inc, where a group of decent elderly men (displaced elders who refused to hand over the title deeds to the KH because they believed that the Congregation had paid for it with no outside help and it belonged to them) that were shafted by the WTBTS and replaced by toady substitutes. The lawyer representing the WTBTS, declared to the court that they “JW’s were a hierachical society the same as the Catholic Church, I think he went on to compare Bishops to CO’s and Cardinals to DO’s, and I also think he said that JW’s do have a clergy.
As for you Burty, you old fraud, you are a legend in your own lunchbox 😉 .

Burt Reynolds

It’s nice to hear of brothers and sisters with insight enough to stand up for what is right, but shocking to hear of yet more dishonesty from the watchtower, and bullying, even to the point of prosecuting its own people. Is there no end to it? Did watchtower win the case?

black curtain

Yes, I am sad to say they did win the case. Most witnesses are programmed never to question their clergy. Which is just how the Catholics have been for a long time and that means if you oppose the leadership in NY then the rank and file will follow the leadership. Most witnesses are threatened with everlasting horrors if they don’t obey. How do you fight that? The 4 men who stood up to WT were the body of elders of Menlo Park hall. They were the trustees to the title deeds for the hall, They were all over 70 and grew up in an era of fairplay and a fair go.
The WT first of all sidelined this elder body, stripping them of their appointments and thus diqualifying them from trusteeship of the KH title. The then appointed toadies who were company men who then worked the crowd and got the rank and file to make these new elders the trustees. Without making this too detailed, part of the legal issue that the four original elders fought the case upon revolved around whether their removal as trustees was legal. The WT pulled dirty tactics which utterly blindsided the 4 ex elders, who never thought that WT would stoop so low to gain ownership of something that did not belong to them. They were never so devastated as when they heard what WT said and did.
How would you survive after years of cognitive dissonance that you were not Clergy? The truth is that all WT elders are clergy, just unpaid and WT confirmed this at that trial.
I am sure you are aware that Chateau Bethel NY State has been stripping all cash in KH funds over $5000, at least in the country that I live, from KH’s and repatriating it to NY. They have been combining congrgations so that they can sell the now surplus halls and send the cash back to NY. Meaning where there was 3 KH’s there is now one and they all share one hall. Plus some congregations are broken up and combined with others. This has an added bonus for WT because the sheeple feel like the congregation is growing, when in actual fact they declining in numbers. Numerology is not a new artform to WT.
Back to the Menlo Park case, it served to illustrate that the WT is what it is, a Corporation, that by definition is a sociopath. It feels no empathy for others except for its own survival, whatever it takes.
Make no mistake however, it cavorts with the rest of Babylon the Great.

Anderiega

You are most correct. I remember when I was still in the fog and dazed and they read the letters at the Kingdom Hall (4 years ago??) that we “voted” (ha!…Yeah right) for the sending all excess funds over $5,000 to the WT. And even though our mortgage was paid off, we were all given a slip of paper to anonymously write how much we could contribute every month for a new mortgage. WT has become a huge racket for being a real estate junkie and publishing company.

ewatchman

Yeah, the ole Judge was spot on, “Religion is a racket and a snare.” lol

Anderiega

Amen Amen. I guess humans would’ve just kept digging and reinventing religions until Jesus second coming…It’s like we can’t help but to latch onto a charismatic, smooth talking human and unavoidably create the very thing (religion) that turns into the Frankinstein that we were running from in the first place. Pure insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

KB

Don’t get me started. The scripture they use is 2Co 8:14 but that by means of an equalizing, your surplus at the present time might offset their need, so that their surplus might also offset your deficiency, that there may be an equalizing.

As long as no one will stand up to them it won’t change. I stopped giving money to Watchtower long before this new arrangement. If everyone would stop, there would be no money to fuel the beast.

Anderiega

I stopped about 6 months ago.

Burt Reynolds

I stopped 25 years ago…..got a job, an education and bought a house, and a pooch, searched for the truth, found it, and am happy. Life is now a rose in a rubbish dump of a world…..but I have a feeling it will be a rubbish dump in a rubbish dump before long but I will still have my rose and everyone here!

Beverly kenyon

Good for you KB. Give them niche. They’ve got plenty and for what? More fancy accessories for their mansion at the lake. Witnesses are being mugged off to the max!

Daisy

After that announcement, I didn’t give them another penny. The 87yo pensioner sister sitting next to me asked if I knew how she could direct debit a monthly payment from her account. I leaned into her and quietly said…
“Why don’t they just pass round a hat”! She didn’t get it but I stopped being ripped off. She was paying WT…her ticket to the new world!

Joseph Stephan

Isn’t it comical how people think that they can purchase a ticket to paradise. Here, let’s see what Jesus wants (it’s not money)

You mean you can’t buy your way in? What have I been paying the pope for all these years…..I’m going to cancel my direct debit straight away. ( it was only half a cent a month as I was told I was not worth a (whole) cent by the elders and was just a worthless slave).

KB

Powerful! I’m sure not perfect, but I can try to love my neighbor. One thing I believe that’s disappearing in the congregation is love for one another. Oh, but if you follow the rules and the program, that’s what puts you on top. Jesus didn’t want the glory. He was a great example.

Burt Reynolds

You’re joking! The watchtower asked the congregations to remortgage the hall so that they could have the money and the brothers pay again for the hall?!!!!! Surely not. That’s just plain dishonest!

KB

Not exactly Burt, let me try to explain. The Watchtower used to fund all the Kingdom Halls builds with a low interest loan as long as the members of the hall could afford the payment and put down a sizable down payment. Then they did away with the interest part of the loan, I’d guess about ten years ago. So if a Kingdom Hall could be built for say $500,000. So a ten year loan with no interest would be $4,166.66 a month. LOL notices all those sixes. Anyway split by two congregations that’s a little over $2,075 a month, very affordable right. That’s how it worked up until a few years ago. Then the branch came out with a letter saying that all the Kingdom Halls were paid off. They no longer had a “mortgage”. The slate was wiped clean. Wonderful right, what a loving provision from this organization that represents Jehovah. Well if it sounds to good to be true, guess what it probably is. So any Kingdom Hall with an existing loan no longer has a loan to pay back or pay off, it’s now your monthly rent payment forever. How ya like those apples. Any Kingdom Hall that was paid off and didn’t have a monthly payment were asked to find out how much each member good give per month, add it up, that amount was their new rent payment. Every spring the payment could be adjusted slightly if the need arises. Thats how it works in the states, not sure about anywhere else. All the JWs just go along with it. I’m not sure what it’s gonna take for these people to “get it” and wake up. It’s gonna have to be something so big, it will leave you utterly speechless that the Watchtower has fallen.

Bklyn Kevin

You know it’s a funny that you brought up the fact that the watchtower society used to charge interest and then stop charging just about 10 years ago , let me explain why it’s funny personally to me.
you see 25 years ago more or less when I was working with regional four construction committee in building kingdom halls for the watchtower tract society I was the most spiritually happiest person in the world until one day in a Friday night meeting the Elders of our congregation had announced that we were going to take a lone of $300,000 from the watchtower tract society in order to build a second floor on our own kingdom hall and the watchtower was going to charge us 4% interest that’s when I got up set because the bible clearly says do not charge your brothers interest however I brought my argument to the Elders of the congregation but they just told me I lacked understanding in regards to the scriptures and that I should just be patient and the light will get brighter and brighter nonetheless I did not let up on them and I wanted a scriptural answer / reason why they the watchtower was charging us interest when the bible clearly said we should not charge our brother interest however after a while they just considered me to be a troublemaker and then I started to point out many of their faults in regards to their scriptures errors and other things as well little did I know at the time that I was gonna get the big shiny boot especially after I confronting several of the Elders in our congregation about their drinking themselves half blind almost on a nightly basis.
Well I’m sure you know the rest of the story just wanted to share it with you guys.
Deuteronomy 23:19
“You must not make your brother pay interest, whether interest on money, on food, or on anything on which interest may be charged.
20 You may make a foreigner pay interest,but you must not make your brother pay interest, so that Jehovah your God may bless you in every undertaking of yours in the land you are going to take possession of.

KB

Thanks for sharing. I also have a story. I grew up in a some what wealthy home. Not crazy money, but more money than most others at the time in the late 70’s-80’s. Many times a pioneer would need a car. So my dad was a good business man and had money. If someone needed money people knew who to go to. Anyway he would loan a pioneer money with interest to buy a car. They couldn’t get a loan at a bank because they never could qualify for a loan due to lack of income. You know banks would go out of business if they didn’t charge interest on borrowed money, that not good business. The brothers told him he couldn’t charge interest on a loan to any of the friends. Could you imagine how many people would want an interest free loan, a lot. He had to charge interest or they would come out of the woodwork to get a loan too. Anyway he would never make them pay the last few payments, so it really was an interest free loan, just not known by everyone. Funny how the elders didn’t want brothers to charge brothers interest, but turned a blind eye to Watchtower for charging interest to the congregations. Hypocrisy at its best.

Beverly kenyon

Wow, Bklyn Kevin, your story and KB’s story of his dad helping out other witnesses is so very interesting and really does warm the cockles of my heart! Principled men who didn’t back down and did what you and KBs dad had to do according to your consciences. I have great respect for people of principle and conscience and faith! When push comes to shove soon I hope I have those sort of qualities to help keep me strong in my resolve to do the right thing by Jehovah. One of my best friends, is a Muslim and they are not suppose to charge interest to each other according to the Koran. So how disgraceful to profit from ones who share our faith and who are related to us in that faith. Aren’t we suppose to have intense love for each other?! Aren’t we suppose to lay down our lives for each other?! Do greedy people inherit God’s Kingdom?

Bklyn Kevin

Here’s the inspired Apostle Paul’s thoughts concerning your question.

In my letter I wrote you to stop keeping company with sexually immoral people, not meaning entirely with the sexually immoral people of this world or the greedy people or extortioners or idolaters. Otherwise, you would actually have to get out of the world. But now I am writing you to stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man.
For what do I have to do with judging those outside?
Do you not judge those inside, while God judges those outside? “Remove the wicked person from among yourselves.”Corinthians 5:9-13.

Thanks Bklyn Kevin for pointing out that scripture. You always dig out scriptures for us and I do appreciate it. You might have been given the shiny boot by them but not before you gave them the verbal boot when you challenged them about the WT charging witnesses interests on loans. And of course they’re gonna call you a trouble maker because you were highlighting the things that you were seeing as wrong. Truth hurts! Bet after that exchange with them they hit the bottle with a vengeance to numb the pain of a guilty conscience!

Joseph Stephan

Thanks for sharing!

Burt Reynolds

Arbitrary theft! I utterly amazed they get away with it. I suppose everyone was told it would be for the preaching work. Do the governing body actually do any sort of work at all I wonder.

Beverly kenyon

Yeah Burt, I remember that a few years ago. At the time I’d read on Bozo’s site what they were going to do as KB has explained to you so I told my deluded witness friend…I call her deluded as she’s very much a brainwashed ‘company man’ and the org can do no wrong…anyhoo, after telling her, she said, they’d better not be asking for more money, I give enough as it is! She was outraged but no doubt she coughed up as she did mention to me later that they had to make some sort of pledge of money towards the Kingdom Hall. Basically, all those witnesses in their KH’s are being ‘taxed’ by WT org. In Jesus’ day, the Temple was renouned for its immense wealth along with the priesthood and their families being immensely wealthy. They allowed racketeering in the temple itself and people being overcharged for sacrificial animals and offerings and were profiting from these ones. Greedy! The lot of them! By contrast you had the Needy widow out of her poverty, put in everything, all she had, mites, the smallest coins, one pence, all she had to live on when really those priests according to the Law should’ve been looking after widows living in poverty. But it’s interesting that just before Jesus spoke of the widow, he talked of the scribes who devour the houses of widows content to rob them of their inheritance. Mark 12:40. Fast forward to modern day and what does that remind you of that’s happening in God’s House. Go on their site and you can be directed to a department for them to relieve you of some of your earnings and your property or shares or even the kitchen sink! I’m sure they’ll get something for that on eBay! There’s a saying about a fool being parted from his money or something like that and that’s so true for someone who gets guilt tripped by them from the platform…you’ve got to be a fool to give them your last quid! I would want to find out exactly where my donation is going and then I would make a sensible and conscious decision.

Richard Long

So, American JW’s are not just debt slaves for the banking cartel, but for the WT too?
Spiritual paradise??????

Is it strange that I feel like “fading” has actually saved my life? I live a under a mile from my local KH and pass it going and coming home every day. Every time, to this day, I see the cars and think “Oh, those faithful servants of Jehovah! What is wrong with me?” The Brothers in my KY town are so loving and now that I am beginning to learn how the WT is using them, I’m physically ill.

Is it really ‘fading’ or becoming more aware? Is the love of the brothers in your town, making your love less so? Love endures all things, hopes all things, ….but it is not exclusive to those under the control of the watchtower. Their love for Jehovah and each other, hardly makes your love for them and Jehovah less so, does it? Because of your heart condition, you are drawn to where you see others with the same condition. The scriptures suggest that when you see your brothers in prison, then you minister to them, and where are your brothers if not in the mental prison set for them by Satan. Deceived, blinded. Chained. Far from fading from the love of Jehovah, you have become more aware, more deeply appreciative of it, absorbed its meaning, felt it’s cure. Your brothers need to come to that same understanding and if they really carry the love born of understanding, they will. The watchtower has made us all feel on the outside of Jehovah’s affecting if we don’t do as they say. Ostracised, unclean and unworthy. But the truth is that we are closer to truth than we ever were under their leadership. As you heard it, so too can they hear it if they have ears. Speak with them with the authority given you if you are able. Not all of us can, or do, depending on circumstances. But far from fading, you have grown in light and in riches beyond measure.

Definitely. Another way we are slaves to the Watchtower is at the assembly’s, now called special assembly days, two a year. Most have assembly’s at assembly halls owned by the Watchtower. The congregations had to donate funds to have them built and provide the free labor to build them. Since this new arrangement the daily rate to use the assembly halls have grown tremendously. Now each publisher assigned to a circuit is counted as $10. So in the US there are around 1,000,000 publishers, each assigned to a special assembly day. The circuit is charged a flat per publisher rate, 1700 publishers in the circuit means they owe $17,000 at the end of the day. Whatever money they collect, whether its more or less, the circuit owes $17,000. Then the elders are compelled to donate to the world wide work generally $500-$1500, and what ever nonsense they can come up with. They need a pedophile fund set up, that would be more beneficial. So in the big picture 10 a publisher x 1,000,000 publishers = $10,000,000 x 2 a year = $20,000,000. It’s no longer about giving what you can, its about the circuit being on the hook for the money. This organization is run more like a business now and is centered on money. The information could be given at the local Kingdom Halls or over the tv systems in every Hall or over the internet to each home. It’s not about the information, it’s about the all mighty dollar, and the Watchtower is rolling in it.

scriptures for thought.
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains.Timothy 6:10.

No one can slave for two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot slave for God and for Riches. Matthew 6:24

Richard Long

money-changers in the temple courtyard. {sigh}

Joseph Stephan

The Bethel Boys need to reflect on what Jesus said, the next time their scheming up away to get more money out of the flock.

Power and greed brother. It’s not looking go for em. It will be their downfall.

Burt Reynolds

There’s no answer to that! I live in Margate, Kent, England. The congregation here has police protection because of the paedophile issues. One ex brother that has stood up to them has been arrested numerous times for demonstrating outside. Thieving and debauchery. You can’t get much worse than that……unless you live far the proceeds of it that is…..sigh.

Richard Long

This sounds remarkably like how Carly Fiorina managed HP and transformed it from a thriving inovative enterprise with a “model” corporate culture into a burned out shell of its former self…but more profitable than ever.

Beverly kenyon

Yeah, I remember that now Black Curtain. That was shocking what the WT did to those elders and the Menlo a Congregation. Once again white hot rage came over me when I read that. Unbelievable! And standing up in court bragging about how they’re similar to the Catholic Church in having a clergy. Well, that’s nothing to brag about! Out of their own mouths they’re condemning themselves! Good! Also in the Jose Lopez child abuse case. When their people was describing the JW organised structure and the role of the GB including Gerrit Losch role, is one of a spiritual leader, akin to Dalai Lama and not a corporate managing agent. And the sickening part of this is that ones like Gerrit Losch is letting their legal team go into court and say such outrageous things! What do you mean about ‘Burty’?

Burt Reynolds

Nothing complimentary Beverley, but nonetheless amusing. Burtrum.

Francis Bencharles

You are correct Beverly. The faithful ones in the Watchtower are about to wake up to the truth that they have put their trust at least partially in the Baal of the Governing Body. They will be amazed at what they will learn in the coming years about God’s Word and how they have only skimmed the surface of a book that has treasures from the surface, right down to the core. Most being untouched. And the wicked in the Watchtower will be overturned and their wall will finally come down to the ground and the Witnesses will view the information coming from the Watchtower as being from the lowly earth and not from the heavens. It is going to be a glorious time for the faithful.

Beverly kenyon

Very true Francis and I can’t wait if I make it through to that stage as I don’t take anything for granted. Hey Francis, will it be appropriate to do a told you so victory dance when what you describe happens! Lol. Because just as tomorrow is gonna come and I hope it comes fast for selfish reasons that is, I know what you’re saying is going to come true! Fact! Brother King has been saying it for years!

Francis Bencharles

e-watchman has been a faithful prophet of doom toward the evil that has taken root and grown into a great tree of the modern Watchtower. But instead of making a place for the perching of the birds in the sunlight which is symbolic of light from God from his Word, God’s faithful anointed have been relegated to the thick shadow under the branches of the thickly shading tree. Yes, the Watchtower has claimed that light for themselves as their exclusive property and delivered a highly “spun” version of that light to the remnant of the Bride of Christ still trapped within the Watchtower. But, the “game” is almost up. Let’s see what evil comes from Baal when he realizes his days are indeed numbered.

Daisy

Yes. Robert has covered this, quoting the scripture about the spirit croaking from the dust as if through a spirit medium, meaning the ineffectualness of bethel’s message when WT crumbles. Seems to me that you paraphrase Roberts work quite a lot. Apologies if I sound rude:D

Burt Reynolds

Robert could you please clarify wha you mean by the quote below please? On the one hand, Jesus appears to be speaking of literal events, and on the other hand, it appears that symbolism is inferred. I believe the former scripture Is also used to describe the coming war, in that the effects of such would cause such a level of pollution to make the sun and the moon be darkened. The use of the word ‘eclipse’ is also new to me and I do not understand the significance of this. Thanks.

‘Jesus used this same sort of apocalyptic phraseology when he spoke of the great tribulation, saying: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

To paper over the fact that Jesus clearly indicated that the symbolic heavenly luminaries go into eclipse after the tribulation…’

Ken Rosenberg

Great insight. I found your daily text commentaries through the youtube video you made. Is there supposed to be a tab on here, because it is not showing up on my end?

Oh. I only see world updates. I didn’t know Commentary was an actual button, just the name for the section, thanks.

Christian Obadiah

When I contemplate the Great Tribulation it terrifies me. I fear the immense suffering that awaits us. I fear the horrors I will have to witness . I fear seeing the death of loved ones I fear dying a violent death myself. I love Jehovah very much and although I am presently resolute, I fear most of all compromising my integrity in the face of death.

muldoon55 .

Obadiah
For a certainty no one knows how they will respond when faced with a horrible death at the hands of persecuters however Our Father knows each of us intimately and what each of us can endure and will not let us go beyond that threshold.
I think of those three Hebrews who were thrown into a furnace heated many times hotter than normal and in that instance survived unscathed .
I think of Stephen who was stoned to death and yet had a peaceful and even a forgiving demeanor whilst being pelted by rocks and was even privileged with a miraculous vision of heavenly glory before dying .
Here’s an account of an event that occurred in Carthage that was witnessed and documented in several writings:

May Jehovah bless you and give you courage brother

Beverly kenyon

Muldoon55, reading that account about Perpetua and Felicitas made my blood run cold with fear. Talk about over kill! Poor Perpetua didn’t even know she’d been badly injured, probably because adrenalin was flowing and she didn’t acknowledge the pain which was a small mercy and with super human courage guided the blade to her throat to get the job done quickly. And I dread to think about Felicitas as that poor woman had only just given birth and would’ve been in a weak state and would’ve been thinking of her poor baby day’s old! So glad those two women were together in their darkest hour and the rest of the Christians with them too. Feel really emotional about this. Man’s inhumanity to man! They kept their integrity and faith to the ultimate end. These women did it under extreme conditions and we should find it in ourselves to do the same. Matt 10:28. Prov 27:11. Wonder if these Christians are part of 144,000? Sleeping and waiting for the ressurrection.

muldoon55 .

I would think that these women would indeed be of those to rule with Christ.
Such resolve and courage!
I know Beverly from reading your posts that you along with all my brothers and sisters here ,by Jehovahs grace, will stand firm during the hour of test fast approaching.

Beverly kenyon

Well Muldoon, if I’m in a compromising position as Christian, I have to keep my loyalty and faith to Jehovah God, it will be my last chance to prove myself true to him as I’ve offended in most of my life. We mustn’t forget the Malawi brothers and sisters who were terrorised, raped, burnt and killed by that despot dictator Banda and the ones in the camps in WW2. Satan had to kill those Chosen ones like Perpetua and Felicitas by any means, anything to disrupt The Kingdom. The day Jesus gets him by the scruff of his neck and turfs him in prison will be a very good day. Ta,ra. Bye, Bye. Cya. Ha!

muldoon55 .

My Christian life has had so many ups and down spiritually speaking.
Once out of the org though I find myself closer to Jehovah than ever and spiritually hungrier as well.
I’m greatful for this site and all the friends here
I’m getting a visual on Jesus grabbing Satan by the scruff of his neck LOL

Christian Obadiah

Thank you very much for the encouragement, Brother. I really appreciate it.

Burt Reynolds

Don’t! It would be glib just to say trust in Jehovah, even if that is the loving thing to do. When you are feeling ‘hungry’ of what use is it to say ‘go well fed.’ Well it’s the same when one feels fear, it is silly to say do not fear. However, the fact remains that we all die but bear in mind that a great crowd will survive. You may well be one of them. But what are the alternatives? We all die of old age or illness at present. The things that you fear will come upon you, and me, in due course unless Jehovah intervenes. We will loose our loved ones. We will leave an empty space, or they will. We may die a violent death, in pain, as Jesus did, and it is worth remembering how Jesus dealt with that. ‘Father, if it is at all possible, let this cup pass from me, but not as I will, but as your will, let it be done.’ And it was Jehovah’s will. Jesus died a horrid death, full of pain, elongated and finally, his last words were, ‘into your hands I commend my spirit’. And so it was, but so too was his resurrection. If a sparrow can fall to earth, and Jehovah recognise and acknowledge that life, then we are assured he will likewise do so for us.
So what to do with our fear? Will we hold up at the time? Jehovah has promised that he will not test us beyond our endurance. We have that comfort. But tested we will be. You can be hung as well for a sheep as a lamb, and though some of us will be tested to death, others will throw it all away out of fear alone…fear of starvation, fear of death, or just plain sin such as immorality. Jesus was tested with a simple loaf of bread and he had to ignore his body, and sacrifice his wretched hunger. Why would Jehovah test you with something he knows you will fail? He would not. But Satan would. And so our test will come from our weaknesses, and thus we need to work on those weaknesses whilst we still may, so that our resolve is set beforehand. When driving, it is always best to decide before hand what you will do in an emergency, is it not?
When faced with death, the soldiers of the Great War went over the top with a gun at their backs from their officers, as did the Russians, as well as at their front from the enemy. We too have the same non-choice. We either face the enemy, and harden our resolve, hope for the best, but understand that to do nothing, will cost us our life, because it is certain death if we fail to stick our head above the parapet and declare our willingness to fight for what is right.
I try to maintain the view that I am but dust on the scales, a slave, worthy of nothing at all….more or less as the watchtower drummed into me for so many many years. If someone points a gun at my head, then my answer to that is, would I really want to live in a world with such people who would murder me for my faith alone? I will die one day anyway. What difference does a few years make and to die at home in my bed, a coward before Jehovah, my life giver, He being unworthy of my own sacrifice, even though life is promised as a reward.
This worlds sin and stench pile up to heaven itself. I have resolved beforehand that I want no part of it. It has nothing to offer any of us other than strife, sadness and grief. Death. What would we stay for?
I forget who, but the bible speaks of one who was tested by being thrown into an oven alive. He was not burnt, but preserved alive by Jehovah. Daniel was thrown into a lions den to be eaten, but they did not. If Jehovah does not allow it, who can harm us? Stay close to Jehovah. Make your resolve as did Jesus. Jehovah will be with you and either protect you or reward you. Reward your faith. These things that we face now, Jehovah promises, will not be brought to mind in his kingdom.

muldoon55 .

Burt you have such an eloquent way of saying things
I’m always encouraged by your comments

Christian Obadiah

Thank you very much for putting it into perspective Burt. I really appreciate the encouragement and comforting words.

“If someone points a gun at my head, then my answer to that is, would I
really want to live in a world with such people who would murder me for
my faith alone? I will die one day anyway. What difference does a few
years make and to die at home in my bed, a coward before Jehovah, my
life giver, He being unworthy of my own sacrifice, even though life is
promised as a reward.”

What a great clip Joseph,powerfully put about not being anxious about tomorrow !

Christian Obadiah

Thank you very much Joseph. We certainly need to remember how much Jehovah values us.

Burt Reynolds

Isn’t this just what the watchtower does….worry about finery and gracious living, adulation from others…

kieth900

Thank you for your hard work brother Robert. I have been drown closer to Jehovah because of the spiritual food you so timely serve. Thank you deeply and might Jehovah continue blessing you.

Francis Bencharles

Robert has done a good job of differentiating between Watchtower bullsockey and something much closer to the truth. You are lucky to have him here on this forum.

Daisy

I prefer the word, blessed….not lucky. Lucky has nothing to do with the reasons we are all here. Jyst maybe the Spirit, our desires to find the truth, and our own abilities to find it had something to do with it…Is bullsockey a euphemism for b.s?
No answer needed thanks Francis.

Bklyn Kevin

Yes Daisy you’re absolutely right luck has nothing to do with, in fact luck is a form of divination which Satan has infused in society in place of truth faith.

Mark 11:24 This is why I tell you, all the things you pray and ask for, have faith that you have received them, and you will have them.

James 1:5
So if any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep asking God, for he gives generously to all and without reproaching, and it will be given him.

1 John 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that no matter what we ask according to his will, he hears us.
Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you;
for everyone asking receives, and everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking, it will be opened.
Indeed, which one of you, if his son asks for bread, will hand him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, he will not hand him a serpent, will he?

Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will your Father who is in the heavens give good things to those asking him! Matthew 7:7-11

Francis Bencharles

poor choice of words on my part. I forgot that that word is a bit of a no no in the Watchtower culture. It’s been a while.